The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Resources

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Camas County have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Fairfield[1].

Cemeteries

There are many cemeteries in Camas County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Camas County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Camas County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the original records of these church units are in the Historical Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

Fairfield

Manard

Romedall

County Commissioners' Records

The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Court Records

Some of the early court records of Camas County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Camas County courthouse in Fairfield, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

The records of the Miscellaneous records in the courts of Camas County that have been microfilmed are included in the Miscellaneous Series below.

History

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has these two histories of the Camas area of Idaho which can be viewed at their Library in Salt Lake City. The Library does not participate in interlibrary loans but these books may be available through other library systems.

A Brief History of Camas Prairie by Lucy M. Nelson (979.631 H2)

A History of Camas Prairie by John F Ryan (979.631 H2)

Land and Property

Land and property records are usually found in the county in which the transactions took place. To view the Camas county records one would have to visit the county courthouse in Fairfield, Idaho.

Both the Idaho State Archives and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City have microfilm copies of the Homestead records of Camas County 1885-1983. The films at the Archives can be accessed by visiting in Boise, Idaho. The films at the Family History Library can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Maps

Military

World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Camas County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm number 1452112) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

Miscellaneous Series

Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Camas County. The originals are held in the Camas County courthouse in Fairfield, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the Family History Library can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Vital Records

Birth

Marriage

A number of Camas County marriages (1917-1948) have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and the film is available for viewing in Salt Lake City or in one of its affiliate Family History Centers.

Death

Societies and Libraries

Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.